O

ne hundred ninety-nine times I’ve written Lifestyle Magazine’s Letter from the Editor, and there were times that I felt like I didn’t have anything else to say. During those times, I’d sit, staring at the blank page on my screen, and think about things that were truly important to me … my kids, family, friends or community, and there would always be a little flicker to light the way. One hundred ninety-nine letters and this one, by far, is my hardest. It is also my last.
As you know, in March of this year, the former 4Creeks Creative purchased DMI Agency and Lifestyle Magazine, creating what is now Topograph. The staff, under the very capable leadership of Eric Riley, has made it a smooth transition, and I am excited to see what they have in store for you.
Since taking the helm in 2005 and making the transition to owner in 2006, I have experienced a lot of change: personal, economic, political and health. My father died three weeks after I became the new owner; my children moved away, then returned; my daughter married and I became the mother-in-law to a fine young man, followed by the onset of becoming a grandparent; the economy went into a deep recession; we gained some terrific employees, lost a few; business boomed, then it didn’t; presidents changed (a couple of times); anniversaries, divorce and, of course, now we are in a pandemic. For the life of me, I don’t know how Lifestyle Magazine fared so well except, well, for all of you. Loyal readers. Committed advertisers. Incredibly talented writers, photographers, designers, content coordinators and editors. I do know this: Being able to consistently showcase the very best our community offers has been one of my life’s greatest pleasures.
My sincere wish for Lifestyle Magazine is that each year of the next 15 be better than the one before. May each of you have continued health and be as generous and gracious and forgiving to the new regime as you have been to me. I thank you and hope you know how much I will miss being here, how much I will miss you.
With deep affection,